Physical fitness related to health and sports performance of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and Down syndrome: implications for rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: Neurological disorders that directly interfere with the acquisition, absorption and application of skills or specific information such as memory, coordination, language and motor skills are classified as Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NT). Autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and Down Syndrome (DS) are examples of conditions that lead to changes in motor and cognitive development and that can also impact the acquisition of motor skills and physical fitness. Objective: The aim of the
present study was to investigate body composition and physical fitness related to health and sports performance in children and adolescents with NT and DS. Methods: Fifteen children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years with DS or TN, boys and girls, who underwent anthropometric evaluation (body mass, height, skin folds, body perimeters and segments and bone diameters) and assessment of physical fitness related to health and sports performance through tests contained in the EUROFIT and PROESP-BRASIL Battery. Results: In the comparison between the groups, the group with DS presented smaller stature, head circumference and average wingspan (all p <0.05). There was no difference in relation to the body mass index (p = 0.824) and the fat percentage (% G) (p = 0.858), and in the TN group 71.4% presented the% G classified as “very high” or “High” and in SD 87.5% as “very high”, “high” or “moderately high”. In general, the DS group underperformed the TN group, with a statistically significant difference in the shuttle test (speed), medicine ball pitch (explosive strength of the upper limbs) and long jump (explosive strength of the lower limbs). Conclusion: Children and adolescents with DS and TD showed different patterns of physical fitness related to health and sports performance, a fact that points to the need for different approaches to the rehabilitation / reconditioning of these groups. Regarding body composition, the high percentage of children and adolescents with body fat above the predicted values reinforces the importance and the need to keep this group physically active, in addition to other possible interventions that contribute to weight reduction.